Reviews, Ratings, and Culinary Identity: Analyzing the Digital Representation of Bursa's Gastronomy through TripAdvisor Data

Cansen Can

Article Details

Reviews, Ratings, and Culinary Identity: Analyzing the Digital Representation of Bursa's Gastronomy through TripAdvisor Data

Authors:

Cansen Can

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Gastronomi

Journal:

Uluslararası Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.109-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353304

pISSN:

2587-1528

Keywords:

Abstract:

 This study aims to examine the indicators related to the digital representation of restaurants in Bursa, a prominent destination in the context of gastronomy tourism. Focusing on the impact of online user reviews on consumer behavior and business performance, the research is based on a sample of the top 120 restaurants in Bursa listed on TripAdvisor with the highest ratings. A qualitative-oriented research design was adopted, and numerical indicators such as star ratings, number of reviews, cuisine types, and service features were analyzed using a manual content analysis approach. The findings reveal that although Turkish cuisine holds a dominant presence, it exhibits a heterogeneous structure in terms of star ratings and number of reviews. The fact that restaurants with average ratings tend to have higher review counts suggests that users are more inclined to share uncertain or negative experiences online. On the other hand, certain niche cuisines with high ratings but limited reviews indicate that customer satisfaction does not always translate into review behavior. The results suggest that online reviews function not only as a means of individual experience sharing but also as structural elements shaping the digital visibility and marketing strategies of gastronomy destinations. This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the digital representation of gastronomy-focused destinations and offers strategic recommendations for local businesses to enhance digital engagement.

 This study aims to examine the indicators related to the digital representation of restaurants in Bursa, a prominent destination in the context of gastronomy tourism. Focusing on the impact of online user reviews on consumer behavior and business performance, the research is based on a sample of the top 120 restaurants in Bursa listed on TripAdvisor with the highest ratings. A qualitative-oriented research design was adopted, and numerical indicators such as star ratings, number of reviews, cuisine types, and service features were analyzed using a manual content analysis approach. The findings reveal that although Turkish cuisine holds a dominant presence, it exhibits a heterogeneous structure in terms of star ratings and number of reviews. The fact that restaurants with average ratings tend to have higher review counts suggests that users are more inclined to share uncertain or negative experiences online. On the other hand, certain niche cuisines with high ratings but limited reviews indicate that customer satisfaction does not always translate into review behavior. The results suggest that online reviews function not only as a means of individual experience sharing but also as structural elements shaping the digital visibility and marketing strategies of gastronomy destinations. This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the digital representation of gastronomy-focused destinations and offers strategic recommendations for local businesses to enhance digital engagement.

 This study aims to examine the indicators related to the digital representation of restaurants in Bursa, a prominent destination in the context of gastronomy tourism. Focusing on the impact of online user reviews on consumer behavior and business performance, the research is based on a sample of the top 120 restaurants in Bursa listed on TripAdvisor with the highest ratings. A qualitative-oriented research design was adopted, and numerical indicators such as star ratings, number of reviews, cuisine types, and service features were analyzed using a manual content analysis approach. The findings reveal that although Turkish cuisine holds a dominant presence, it exhibits a heterogeneous structure in terms of star ratings and number of reviews. The fact that restaurants with average ratings tend to have higher review counts suggests that users are more inclined to share uncertain or negative experiences online. On the other hand, certain niche cuisines with high ratings but limited reviews indicate that customer satisfaction does not always translate into review behavior. The results suggest that online reviews function not only as a means of individual experience sharing but also as structural elements shaping the digital visibility and marketing strategies of gastronomy destinations. This study fills a gap in the literature regarding the digital representation of gastronomy-focused destinations and offers strategic recommendations for local businesses to enhance digital engagement.

 Bu çalışma gastronomi turizmi bağlamında önemli bir destinasyon olan Bursadaki restoranların dijital ortamdaki temsiline ilişkin göstergeleri incelemeyi amaçlamaktadır. Çevrimiçi kullanıcı yorumlarının tüketici davranışları ve işletme performansı üzerindeki etkilerine odaklanan araştırmada, TripAdvisor platformunda en yüksek değerlendirme puanlarına sahip ilk 120 restoran örneklem olarak belirlenmiştir. Nitel ağırlıklı bir yöntem benimsenmiş ve manuel içerik analizi yaklaşımı doğrultusunda restoranlara ilişkin yıldız ortalaması, yorum sayısı, mutfak türü ve hizmet özellikleri gibi sayısal göstergeler analiz edilmiştir. Bulgular, Türk mutfağının yüksek temsil oranına sahip olduğunu, ancak yıldız ortalaması ve yorum sayısı bakımından heterojen bir yapı sergilediğini ortaya koymaktadır. Ortalama düzeyde puana sahip restoranların daha yüksek yorum sayısına ulaşması, kullanıcıların özellikle kararsız ya da olumsuz deneyimlerini dijital ortama aktarma eğiliminde olduklarını göstermektedir. Öte yandan, yüksek değerlendirme puanı alan bazı niş mutfakların sınırlı sayıda yorumla temsil edilmesi, müşteri memnuniyetinin yorum davranışına doğrudan yansımadığına işaret etmektedir. Elde edilen bulgular, çevrimiçi yorumların yalnızca bireysel deneyim aktarımı değil; aynı zamanda gastronomi destinasyonlarının dijital görünürlüğünü ve pazarlama stratejilerini şekillendiren yapısal bir unsur olduğunu göstermektedir. Çalışma, gastronomi odaklı destinasyonların dijital platformlardaki temsiline ilişkin literatürdeki boşluğu doldurmakta ve yerel işletmelere dijital etkileşimi artırmaya yönelik stratejik öneriler sunmaktadır.

Article Details

Reviews, Ratings, and Culinary Identity: Analyzing the Digital Representation of Bursa's Gastronomy through TripAdvisor Data

Authors:

Cansen Can

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Gastronomi

Journal:

Uluslararası Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.109-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353304

pISSN:

2587-1528

TripAdvisor

online reviews

digital representation

gastronomy tourism

content analysis

BursaTripAdvisor

çevrimiçi yorumlar

dijital temsil

gastronomi turizmi

içerik analizi

Bursa

Issues

Article Details

Authors: Cansen Can

Publisher: Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics: Gastronomi

Journal: Uluslararası Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.109-120

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 6/2025

Document Language: Turkish

Document ID (Org No.): 2001353304

pISSN: 2587-1528

Issues

Authors:

Cansen Can

Publisher:

Izmir Katip Celebi University

Main Topics:

Gastronomi

Journal:

Uluslararası Güncel Turizm Araştırmaları Dergisi Vol.9 Issue 1, pp.109-120

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

6/2025

Document Language:

Turkish

Document ID (Org No.):

2001353304

pISSN:

2587-1528